UNICS overpowers Levallois to secure Top 16 spot

UNICS Kazan clinched a berth in the Top 16 by overpowering Levallois Metropolitans 68-78 on Wednesday at Palais Des Sports Marcel Cerdan. UNICS improved to 5-2 in Group A and hosts Darussafaka Istanbul next week in a battle for first place. Levallois dropped to 1-6. UNICS took control early to lead by 11 in the first quarter and cruised the rest of the way. Boris Diaw helped the hosts rally to within 6 in the third quarter, but UNICS quickly regained control. The key statistic was UNICS outrebounding Levallois 24-46. That advantage helped mask UNICS’s poor three-point shooting (3 of 16; 18.8%) and 17 turnovers. Stephane Lasme posted 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks for the winners. Jamar Smith also scored 14 and Quino Colom contributed 12 points, 7 boards and 5 assists. Diaw amassed 15 points, Travis Leslie scored 13 and Gavin Ware 12 in defeat.

Lasme made an early impact with a block on one end that he turned into a layup on the other. Cyrille Eliezer stepped up for Levallois to keep the hosts close at 9-10. Smith came alive with back-to-back three-pointers that ignited a 0-10 UNICS run. Evgeny Kolesnikov’s jumper gave the visitors an 11-22 lead after 10 minutes. UNICS held the hosts without points for the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter as the lead grew to 14. Boris Diaw tried to get Levallois going, but Lasme’s tip-in and Kolesnikov’s layup saw the margin grow. Roderick Odom heated up for Levallois, too, however Colom kept UNICS rolling. Melvin Ejim joined the shootput with a triple that extended the margin to 21-39. Louis Campbell helped keep the hosts from falling apart with a three-pointer, a three-point play and a steal. Leslie’s three-pointer drew Levallois within 12. However free throws by Ejim and Lasme ended the first half at 28-42.

Leslie and Smith entered into a shooting duel, but the margin remained comfortable for the visitors. Diaw became the go-to- guy for Levallois as he drew fouls, made free throws and then sank a hook shot to make it 44-52. With the crowd cheering, Ware closed the gap to 6, but UNICS battled to keep control. Martin Meiers lifted the visitors to 50-60 at the end of the third quarter. The Levallois momentum fizzled out as the hosts were held without points for the first three and a half minutes of the fourth quarter. Campbell ended the dry spell with a reverse layup, but Trent Lockett made 3 free throws over two possessions for a 52-67 lead. Ivan Fevrier and Sylvain Francisco nailed triples as Levallois fought until the end, but UNICS kept scoring to hang on for the win and ticket to the Top 16.

Head Coaches

"We were too far behind early in the game to hope to get a win against team like Kazan. We lacked a little something to really make the comeback happen in the second half."

PRIFTIS, DIMITRIS

UNICS Kazan

"We are happy because we won. We had a very bad second half; Paris dominated the lane and scored everyone from inside. We had a problem guarding Diaw because he is a very good passer. We decided to guard him one on one and he scored almost everything. Actually in the end we had a god offense in specific moments of the game and we won this game."

Players

ELIEZER, CYRILLE

Levallois Metropolitans

"It was a tough game against a team that never slows its rhythm. We learn a lot against players who are used to playing at this level, but it's hard for us not to get a win. "

LASME, STEPHANE

UNICS Kazan

"We really wanted to win this game to take a step closer to the Top 16. I am proud of my teammates, we all played for 40 minutes. It was a good performance. "

COLOM, QUINO

UNICS Kazan

"We are really happy for the victory. It is always difficult to win on the road. We won without playing our best game but defensively, we did very well. They didn't score a lot of points and we controlled the game throughout the second half. We did a good job, being focused and intense. We have to improve a little bit and try to be more effective on offense, but we got a good win. It is time to face CSKA [in the VTB League] and Darussafaka, to try to be first in our EuroCup group."